BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) are regarded as modifiable risk factors for mental health in several populations. Although the consumption of SSBs is steadily increasing in Korea, there is scant evidence regarding the impact of SSB consumption on depression and suicidal ideation. The aim of this study was to investigate the association of SSB consumption with depression and suicidal ideation among adults in Korea. SUBJECTS/METHODS: We used the data for 5,465 participants (2,170 men and 3,295 women) aged ≥ 20 years from the 2014 and 2016 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The subjects were divided into four groups according to SSB consumption using a food frequency questionnaire. Logistic regression analyses were conducted to examine the association of SSB consumption with depression and suicidal ideation, adjusting for sociodemographic, health behavior, and dietary variables. RESULTS: Participants consuming ≥ 1 SSB/day had a significantly higher risk of depression (odds ratio [OR], 1.54; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.08–2.18; P < 0.001) and suicidal ideation (OR, 2.20; 95% CI, 1.13–4.28; P < 0.001) compared with those in the non-SSB group after adjusting for potential confounding factors. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that SSB consumption is positively associated with depression and suicidal ideation in Korean adults.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the mediating effect of depressive symptoms on the relationship between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and problematic internet use. The study participants were 180 students between the ages of 9 and 18 years. Path analysis was performed to measure the relationships among ACEs, depressive symptoms and problematic internet use. ACEs significantly affected depressive symptoms (standardized regression weight, 0.36; P < 0.01), and depressive symptoms also affected problematic internet use (standardized regression weight, 0.40; P < 0.01). We found that depressive symptoms had a significant mediating effect on the relationship between problematic internet use and ACEs. The management of depressive symptoms would be important to prevent problematic internet use in children and adolescents with ACEs.

Objective: This study investigated the types of daily life stressors associated with social media use in adolescents with problematic Internet/smartphone use in a city in Korea. Methods: Data from 2,997 Internet and smartphone users who participated in a survey about the actual use of smart digital media in Korea were included. The measurement tools included questionnaires on Internet and smartphone usage patterns and types of daily life stressors as well as the Internet Gaming Use-Elicited Symptom Screen and a smartphone addiction scale. The subjects were divided into a problematic Internet/smartphone use group and a control group. We compared the types of daily life stressors associated with social media use for each group. Results: All types of daily life stressors were more prevalent in the problematic Internet use group than in the control group. In the problematic Internet/smartphone use group, the types of daily life stressors that were positively associated with social media use were sibling rivalry and physical health. In the control group, social media use was negatively associated with daily life stressors related to appearance and heterosexual relationships. Conclusion There is a need to provide personalized stress management related to social media use for adolescents with problematic Internet/smartphone use.

Objective: This study investigated the types of daily life stressors associated with social media use in adolescents with problematic Internet/smartphone use in a city in Korea. Methods: Data from 2,997 Internet and smartphone users who participated in a survey about the actual use of smart digital media in Korea were included. The measurement tools included questionnaires on Internet and smartphone usage patterns and types of daily life stressors as well as the Internet Gaming Use-Elicited Symptom Screen and a smartphone addiction scale. The subjects were divided into a problematic Internet/smartphone use group and a control group. We compared the types of daily life stressors associated with social media use for each group. Results: All types of daily life stressors were more prevalent in the problematic Internet use group than in the control group. In the problematic Internet/smartphone use group, the types of daily life stressors that were positively associated with social media use were sibling rivalry and physical health. In the control group, social media use was negatively associated with daily life stressors related to appearance and heterosexual relationships. Conclusion There is a need to provide personalized stress management related to social media use for adolescents with problematic Internet/smartphone use.

Isolated cranial neuropathies involving the facial nerve are very rare manifestations of pontine infarction, and have not been described in paramedian pontine infarction. We report a 67-year-old woman who developed sudden and long-lasting right facial nerve paralysis accompanied by transient ipsilateral abducens nerve palsy. Brain magnetic resonance imaging showed two discrete simultaneous infarctions in the right inferior paramedian pontine area, which seemed to correspond to the facial nerve fascicle and the abducens nerve fascicle, respectively. Paramedian pontine infarction can be one of the causes of facial nerve palsy and present as an isolated or predominant sign.
Abducens Nerve Diseases* ; Abducens Nerve* ; Aged ; Brain ; Cranial Nerve Diseases ; Facial Nerve ; Female ; Humans ; Infarction* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Paralysis

Ocular disturbances related to cranial nerve lesion or increased intracranial pressure are well known in cryptococcal meningitis, but internuclear ophthaloplegia is very rare and only two cases have been reported to our knowledge. We report the third patient of internuclear ophthalmoplegia in cryptococal meningitis. The internuclear ophthalmoplegia in our case persisted for one year with a demonstrable lesion in brain MRI, in contrast to the other cases in which intranuclear ophthalmoplegia was transient and no responsible lesion was observed.
Brain ; Cranial Nerves ; Cryptococcosis* ; Humans ; Intracranial Pressure ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Meningitis ; Meningitis, Cryptococcal ; Ocular Motility Disorders ; Ophthalmoplegia

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate a novel radiofrequency ablation (RFA) application utilizing an adjustable electrode for treatment of benign thyroid nodules.MATERIALS AND METHODS: From April 2011 to December 2018, 21 patients underwent RFA treatment on 21 thyroid nodules, utilizing an 18-gauge internally cooled electrode equipped with a size adjustable active tip. The peripheral nodule portions were ablated with the moving-shot technique and a shorter active tip, and the nodule centers were ablated with the fixed technique and a longer active tip. We assessed parameters including characteristics of the treated nodules, use of variablesized active tips, volume reduction rate, therapeutic success rate, and post-procedural complications. The therapeutic success rate was defined as a > 50% volume reduction of the initial nodule volume at the 6- or 12-month follow-up.RESULTS: The treated thyroid nodules were large enough to cause symptoms (mean volume, 29.6 mL). Two types of active tips per session were used for all nodules. The mean volume reduction rate at the last follow-up was 68.3 ± 4.4% and our therapeutic success rate was 90.5%. Both symptoms and cosmetic scores decreased significantly. Minor complications in three patients were recorded during and after the procedure.CONCLUSION: This initial study demonstrated that an adjustable electrode for RFA of benign thyroid nodules effectively and safely resulted in volume reduction.
Catheter Ablation ; Electrodes ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Thyroid Gland ; Thyroid Nodule ; Ultrasonography

Purpose: This study aims to propose revised inpatient nursing fee schedules that address three discrepancies between actual nurse staffing levels in general wards and the corresponding patient payment structures. Methods: A total of 45 tertiary hospitals, 329 general hospitals, and 1,379 hospitals from publicly released data for 2021~2022 were analyzed. This analysis focused on three primary discrepancies between (1) the staffing grades under which patients were hospitalized and the corresponding grades for which they were charged; (2) the staffing grades determined by bed-to-nurse and patient-to-nurse criteria; and (3) the current differentiation rates of nursing fees and the expected differentiation rates based on the number of nurses required for each grade. Results: The first discrepancy occurred in 8.9% of tertiary hospitals, 21.0% of general hospitals, and 26.0% of hospitals. The bed-to-nurse and patient-to-nurse grades differed by 2.23 and 2.29 grades on average in general hospitals and hospitals, respectively. The current differentiation rates were higher than the expected differentiation rates. New nursing fee schedules were suggested to resolve those discrepancies. Conclusion Nursing fees should be charged to reflect the staffing levels under which patients were cared for and proportionate to the number of nurses required to provide the corresponding staffing levels.

Objectives: Adolescent suicide is a serious social problem. Adolescent alcohol use is one of the most important risk factors for adolescent suicide. This study aimed to identify the relationship between drinking habits and suicide among Korean adolescents. Methods: Data from the 14th and 15th Korean Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey, conducted in 2018 and 2019, were used for analysis. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to identify the relationship between drinking habits—including the age of drinking initiation, frequency of drinking, average drinking amount, frequency of drunkenness—and suicidal ideation, plans, and attempts. Results: Even after adjusting for age, sex, school grade, academic achievement, socioeconomic status, depression, stress, and drinking habits, the frequencies of drinking and drunkenness increased the risk of suicide attempts. Suicide attempts were associated with the frequency of drinking in girls and middle school students, and with the frequency of drunkenness in boys and high school students. Conclusion This study identified associations between drinking habits (the age of drinking initiation, frequency of drinking, average amount of drinking, frequency of drunkenness) and suicidal behavior in adolescents. Our findings suggest that to prevent adolescent suicide, it might be necessary to investigate drinking habits, including the frequencies of drinking and drunkenness. Moreover, considering the differences in sex and school grade, it is important to include the individual group characteristics when evaluating drinking habits.

Objectives: Adolescent suicide is a serious social problem. Adolescent alcohol use is one of the most important risk factors for adolescent suicide. This study aimed to identify the relationship between drinking habits and suicide among Korean adolescents. Methods: Data from the 14th and 15th Korean Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey, conducted in 2018 and 2019, were used for analysis. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to identify the relationship between drinking habits—including the age of drinking initiation, frequency of drinking, average drinking amount, frequency of drunkenness—and suicidal ideation, plans, and attempts. Results: Even after adjusting for age, sex, school grade, academic achievement, socioeconomic status, depression, stress, and drinking habits, the frequencies of drinking and drunkenness increased the risk of suicide attempts. Suicide attempts were associated with the frequency of drinking in girls and middle school students, and with the frequency of drunkenness in boys and high school students. Conclusion This study identified associations between drinking habits (the age of drinking initiation, frequency of drinking, average amount of drinking, frequency of drunkenness) and suicidal behavior in adolescents. Our findings suggest that to prevent adolescent suicide, it might be necessary to investigate drinking habits, including the frequencies of drinking and drunkenness. Moreover, considering the differences in sex and school grade, it is important to include the individual group characteristics when evaluating drinking habits.